Submarine mine.



K. 0. LEON.

SUBMABINE MINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.16, 1906.

91 3,524. Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Witnesses B jilv'ntfll" m12%%,7 MHMZM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL OSKAR LEON, OF STOCKHO LM, SWEDEN.

summnmn MINE.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1999.

Application filed November 16, 1906. Serial No. 343,684.

. To all whom it may-concern:

- and wander in the sea, in which case they become very dangerous to war-vessels as well as to the neutral navlgatlon. Th1s 1s especially the case in such mines 1n whlch the firing battery is inclosed within the casing of the nnne proper, on account of these mines maintaining, after breaking their connections, their formidable character of easily exploding at the smallest shock or thrust. The same is obviously the case in mines-in which the shock or thrust causes the formation of a firing battery, for instance through the burst ing of a brittle tube or other vessel containing the electrolyte. In certain submarine mines the firing batteryhas, therefore, been placed outside the mine casing so that the connectionof the mine with. the battery is broken in case the mine tears itself from its anchoring place. Experience has, however, shown that this measure is not always sufficient, since it often hap ens that the battery, .after the mine has, ecom'e free, is, by the conducting wire extending from the body of the mine, dragged along with'the mine, in which case the danger is obviously the same as 'if the battery were placed within the mine casing.

The object-of the present invention is to provide means, for sinking or destroying escaping submarine mines so as to avoid the danger connected with freely wandering nunes.

The inventioncconsists, chiefly, in providing means for opening the shell or casing of e mine, as soon as it rises to the water surface, so as to admit water into the said shell or casing and "cause the mine to sink. The

prefe arrangement for opening the said shell or casing consists in providing means 7 for bursting it, either wholly or partially, but

other means might as wellbe employed, for instance a valve, or the like, adapted to be opened, when the mine rises to the water surface. Suitably, the'shell or casing is proafter described and specifically pointed out in the claims. In the drawing, the invention is schematically illustrated.

Figure 1 shows the invention embodied in a submarine mine having the firing battery,

situated outside the mine casing' Fig. 2 shows an arrangement com rising a relay circuit and a clock work or closing the mine-destroying circuit a predetermined, short time after the mine has escaped from its anchor and risen to the surface of the water.

Referring to the drawing, the. battery B (Fig. 1) is connected with one pole to the water and with its other pole through a conducting wire 1 to the mechanism inclosed within the mine casing H. At the point 2 the conductor 1 divides into two branches, one of which 3- is connected to the vibrating contact 4 of the known shock apparatus, while the other branch 5 is'connected to a contact piece 6' forming part of an additional or mine-destroying contact device K. When -a vessel or other external object strikes the mine casing, the contact 4 is caused to vibrate so as to touch one or more of a number of contact s rings 7, 8, thereby closing a circuit for t e battery B throug the conducting wire 1, wire 3, con-tact 4, spring 7 or 8, respectively, wire 9, detonator 10, and wire 9 to the mine casing H and thence through the Water back to the battery B. The current .from battery B passing through the detonator 10 then fires the mine. The contact device K serves to cause the mine tosink, in case the mine should esca e and rise to the water surface carrying t e battery B with it, said contact device then closing a circuit through a-fuse or the like within'aplug P inserted into a hole inthe mine casmg and containing an explosive suflicient to burst the plug and allow the water to enter into the mine casing and sink the mine when the circuit is closed through the fuse.

In the form of embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing the contact device K consists of two contact fpieces 6 and 11 cooperating with a contact ger 13 attached to the bottom 12 of a box D secured to the mine casing. Openings 14 lead through the mine casing'H into the interior of the box D. The bottom 12 will yield more or less according as the water pressure thereon increases or decreases. When the 'mine floats at the roper depth beneath the water surface, the ottom 12 of the box D is kept depressed by the water pressure, so that the contact finger 13 does not touch the contact pieces .6 and 11, whereas, if the mine rises to the water surface, the pressure upon the bottom 12 of the box D is decreased to such an extent that the contact finger 13 makes contact with the contact pieces 6 and 11 and closes a circuit from the battery B through wire 1, wire 5, contact/piece 6, contact finger 13, contact piece 11, wire 15, bursting-plug P wire 16, 'mine casing and water, back to the battery B. The mine, in. getting loose from its-anchor, is thus opened or the entryof'water, as soon as it rises to the water surface, in case the'conducting wire from the battery B is not tom.

. lines and thereby forms a bridge'between On account thereof that the explosive charge of the detonator 10 usually consists of gun-cotton or other substance, which easily explodes at a shock, the danger of an explosion taking place, when a vessel violently strikes the mine, is however, not wholly excluded, even if the firing battery is left,.

when the mine escapes from its anchoring place. In order to, at all events, 'burst the plu P, when the mine rises to the water sur ace, the contact piece 6 may, therefore, be connected to one pole of a separate plugbursting battery placed within the -mine casing, the other pole of said battery being connected to water. In iliiiying down the mine, the box D is suitably ed with a fluid under pressure and the openin s 14 closed by plugs or the like, said P ugs a strings or the like attached thereto, so t at the plugs can bewithdrawn when the mine has-been laid down.-

'In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 the firing battery B is placed Within the mine casing, which further contains an auxiliary battery B, whose circuit is closed by the contact 13, when the mine rises to the water surface. Interposed in the circuit of the battery B is an electro-magnet M which, when supplied with current, attracts an armature. 16 serving to normally prevent the escapement 17 of a clock-Work U from motion. When the escapement is released, a spring or a weight (not shown) is made active, so that the wheel 18 is turned in the direction of the arrow. The wheel 18 carries a contact finger 19 which, after a predetermined length of time, takes up the position shown by dotted two contact pieces 20, 21 each connected through a conductor 22, 23 reslpectively to one pole of the firing battery The exin the same manner as before.

, casin plosive. charge or detonator 10 and the shock apparatus 4, 7, 8 are shown arranged I When the contact device 19, 20,21 is closed, the plug P inserted in the mine casing is burst, causing the filling of the mine with water so as to sink.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 can obviously be employed either when the firing battery is placed within or outside the mine In the latter case a particular plugbursting battery can be placed within the mine casing, as before stated.

The armature '16 is suitably arranged in such a manner as to check the escapement 17 and prevent it from further motion, as soon as the electro-ma'gnet M is deprived of current, by which the laying down of the mine is considerably facilitated.

. In tidal waters the described arrangement can suitably be combined with means for maintaining the mine at a constant depth below the water surface, as described in my application for Letters Patent Serial N 0. 343,685, filed Nov. 16, 1906.

In order to close the plug-bursting circuit, when the mine rises to the water surface, it is, obviously, possible to em loy other means than those shown and descrl ed and I, therefore, desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to any particular construction or constructions but consider any device influenced by water ressure in such a manner as to close the p ug-bursting circuit, when 'themine escapes and-rises to the water sur face, to fall within the scope of my invention.

The contact closing device shown in the drawin a tlia hra ni 12 actuated b water I: P p pressure and carrying a contact finger 13 in operative relation to two contact pieces 6 and 11) is merely shown by way of example for elucidatin the invention:

- Obviously, i desired, I may employ two or more bursting-plugs connected in circuit in such a manner as to be burst simultaneously. In using two burstinglugs, said plugs are su'tablyfplaced at two diametrically opposite points 0 the minecasing so that one of the two openings made-finds itself below and the other above the water surface, by which the air inclosed within the mine casing is allowed to escape and leave space for water.

By connecting-the contact piece 11 (Rig. 1) or 21 (Fig. 2) respectively to the conductor.9 leading to the detonator 10 it is, obviouslyosslble to make the whole mine ex. plodejz w en it rises to the water surface, but on account of this arrangement being thou ht to involve a certain risk I preferably emp 0y special'gbursting-plugs for partially opening or bursting the mine casing.

Having now described my invention what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 1. In a submarine mine, the combination said device, for opening the mine casing,v

when the mine rises to the water surface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth., 3 a a a 2. In asubmarine mine, the combination of a detonator, a casinginclosing the said detonator, an electric battery, conductors lead ing from the poles of the said battery ,and forming a normally open electric circuit,

means, included in the said circuit, for open ing the casing, when the circuit is closed, and

' means for closing the said circuit, when the leading from the poles mine rises to the water surface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a submarine/mine, the combination of a detonator, a casin inclosing the said detonator; an electric of the said battery and forming. a normally open electric circuit, means, included in the said circuit, for openin the casing, when the circuit is closed, and

- a evice actuated by water pressure in such a manner as to close the said circuit when the water pressure, falls below a predetermined value, substantially as and for the purpose set'forth.

4. In a submarine mine, the combination of a detonator, a casin inclosing the said detonator, an electric battery, conductors leading from the poles of the said battery and forming a normally open electric circuit,

"the purpose; set, forth;

means included in the said circuit for opening the casing, when the circuit is closed, a normally barred. clock-work, means for-releasing the. said clock-work, when the mine rises to the water surface, and means erated by-the clock-workfor closing the e ectric circuit a redetermined length of time after the 0100 -work is released, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a submarine mine, the combination of a detonator, a casin .inclosing'the said detonator, an electric attery, conductors leading from the poles of the said battery and forming a normally 0 en electric circuit, means included in the said circuit for opening the casing, when the circuitis, closed, a normally barred clock-work, an auxiliary battery, conductors leading from the said auxihary battery and formmg a normally open auxiliary circuit, an electromagnet inclu ed 1n the said auxiliary circuit, means 0 erated b the said electro-magnet for releasmgthe c ock-work when the auxiliary for closing the electric circuit of the first battery a predetermined length of time after the clock-work is released, and means for closing the auxiliary circuit, when the mine rises to the water surface, substan tially as and for -6 ha submarine mine, the combination ffaifidetonator, a casing inclosing the said attery, conducto s normally barred clock-work, an auxiliary battery, conductors leading from the said auxiliarybattery and forming a normally open auxiliary circuit, an electro-magnet included in the said auxiliary circuit, means operated by the said electro-magnet for releasing the clock-work when the auxiliary circuit is closed, means 0 erated by the clock-work for closing the e ect-ric circuit of the first battery a predetermined length of time after the clock-work is released, and a device actuated by water pressure in such a manner as to closethe auxiliary circuit when the water pressure fallsbelow a redeter mined value, substantially as an for the purpose set forth. a 7. In a submarine mine, the combination, of a casing inclosing the explosive char e, said casing having a hole, a plug fillin up 1; 1e said hole, and means for bursting t e said lug, when the mine rises to the water surace, substantially as and for the purpose set forth; 1

8. In a submarine mine, the combination I of a detonator, acasing mclosing the said detonator, said casin havin a hole, a plug filling up the saidho e, an e ectric battery,

conductors leading from the poles of the said battery and form ng a normally open electric circuit, means included in the said circuit, for bursting the plu when the circuit is closed, and means for c osing the said oncuit, when the mine rises to the water surface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. ,In a submarine mine, the combination of a detonator, a casing inclosing the said detonator, said casin havin a hole, a plug filling up the said ho e, an e ectric battery, conductors leading from the poles of the said battery and forming a normally open electIlO circuit, means included in the said cirdetonator, said casin havin a hole, a plug circuit is? fi closed, means operated by the clock-work,

Hing up the said ho e, an e ectric battery, conductors leading from the poles of the said battery and-forming a normally open electric circuit, means included in the s a1d c11 cuit for burstin the plug when the circult 1s closed, a normaIly barife clock work, means for releasing the said block-work, when the In a submarine mine, the combination mine rises to the water surface, and means,

o erated by the clock-work, for'closing the e ectric circuit a predetermined length of time after the clock-work is released, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a submarine mine, the combination of a detonator, a casing inclosing the said detonator, said casing havin a hole, a plug filling up the said hole, an e ectric battery conductors leading from the poles of the sand battery and forming a normally open electric circuit, means included in the said circuit for bursting the lug when the circuitis closed, a normally arred clock-work, an

' auxiliary battery, conductors leading from the said auxilia battery and forming a normall 0 en aux' iary circuit, an electromagnet mc uded in the said auxiliary circuit, means operated by the said electromagnet for releasing the clock-work when the auxil iary circuit is closed, means operated by the clock-work for closing the plug-bursting circuit a predetermined length of time after the clock-work is released, and means for closing the auxiliary circuit, when the mine rises to the water surface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a submarine mine,-the combination of a detonator, a casing inclosing the said detonator, said casing having a hole, a plug a closed, a norma filling up the said hole, an electric battery conductors leading from the poles of the said battery and forming a normally open'electric circuit, means included in the said cir-' suit for burstinfi ybarre iliary battery, conductors leading said auxiliary battery and forming a normally 0 en auxiliary circuit, an electro-magclock-work anauxinet inc uded in the said auxiliary circuit,

means operated by the said electro-magnet for releasing the clock-work when the auxiliary circuitjs closed, means operated by the the plug when the circuit is rom the a I clock-work for closin the plug-bursting 'circuit a redetermine length oftime after the cloc work is released, and a device actu ated' by water pressure in such a manner as to close the auxiliary circuit when the water pressure falls belowa predetermined va ue, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' KARL OSKAR LEON. Witnesses:

- CARL Fsmnne,

AUG. SoRENsEN. 

